FIGURE A
FIGURE B
Chain (ch)
A crochet chain is often used as the base for all the following stitches but it can also be used within a stitch pattern.
To make a chain stitch, take the yarn end that leads to the ball over the crochet hook, wrapping it over, in front and under the hook. Now draw this loop through the loop on the hook to make the chain stitch (fig. C). Continue in this way until the required number of chain stitches have been completed.
FIGURE C
Double crochet (dc)
This is possibly the most basic of crochet stitches.
To make a double crochet, insert the hook into the work. Wrap the yarn around the hook in the same way as for a chain stitch. Draw this new loop through the work – you should now have 2 loops on the hook (fig. D). Wrap the yarn around the hook again and draw this new loop through both the loops on the hook to complete the stitch (fig. E).
FIGURE D
FIGURE E
Treble (tr)
This is the other most commonly used crochet stitch. It’s taller than a double crochet and therefore the work will grow faster if it’s made up of treble stitches.
To make a treble, start by wrapping the yarn around the hook before inserting it into the work (fig. F). Wrap the yarn around the hook again and draw this new loop through just the work, leaving 3 loops on the hook. Now wrap the yarn around the hook again (fig. G). Draw this new loop through just the first 2 loops on the hook. There are now just 2 loops left on the hook. Wrap the yarn around the hook once more (fig. H). Draw this new loop through both of the loops on the hook to complete the treble (fig. J).
FIGURE F
FIGURE G
FIGURE H
FIGURE J
Half treble (htr)
This type of stitch is taller than a double crochet but shorter than a treble and it’s made in a similar way to a treble.
To make a half treble, wrap the yarn around the hook and insert it into the work. Wrap the yarn around the hook again and draw this new loop through the work, leaving 3 loops on the hook (fig. K). Wrap the yarn around the hook again but this time draw this new loop through all 3 loops on the hook to complete the half treble (fig. L).
FIGURE K
FIGURE L
Double treble (dtr)
This stitch is taller than a treble. To make a double treble, wrap the yarn twice around the hook before inserting it into the work. Wrap the yarn around the hook and draw this new loop through the work, leaving 4 loops on the hook. Wrap the yarn around the hook again. Draw this new loop through just the first 2 loops on the hook. There are now 3 loops left on the hook. Wrap the yarn around the hook once more. Draw this new loop through just the first 2 loops on the hook. There are now 2 loops on the hook. Wrap the yarn around the hook again. Draw this new loop through both of the loops on the hook to complete the double treble.
Taller stitches
Stitches that are taller than a double treble can be worked in a similar way. For a triple treble (ttr), wrap the yarn around the hook 3 times before inserting it into the work. Wrap the yarn around the hook and draw this new loop through the work. *Now wrap the yarn around the hook again and draw the new loop through just the first 2 loops on the hook. Repeat from * until there is only one loop left on the hook – the triple treble is now completed.
Bigger trebles can also be made in this way – for each extra bit of height to the stitch, wrap the yarn around the hook once more before inserting it into the work (4 times for a qtr). Complete each bigger stitch in the same way – by drawing each new loop through just the first 2 loops on the hook until only one loop remains.
Slip stitch (ss)
This stitch is often used to join sections or to move the crochet hook to another point to work the next set of stitches.
FIGURE M
FIGURE N
To make a slip stitch, insert the hook into the work. Wrap the yarn around the hook and draw this new loop through both the work and the loop on the hook to complete the slip stitch (figs. M and N).
PLACING THE STITCHES
Different crochet stitch patterns are often made up of the same sort of stitches but where these stitches are placed can alter the effect they create.